THE deadline is looming for students to create artwork in memory of Dorset’s Olympic sailing hero Andrew Simpson, which is to be showcased at the London Boat Show 2014.

Last January, Simpson took part in the inaugural Fine Art Sails UK Championship Regatta, held at the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show.

The competition marked the first pairing of world-class sailors and internationally-renowned artists, with original designs painted on to Star keelboat sails and raced on London Docklands.

This new year, the art-fused sailing regatta is returning to Europe’s first boat show from January 4-5 and schoolchildren across the country are being invited to create artwork in Simpson’s memory.

The Fine Art Sails and the National Schools Sail Art competition urges all seven to 17-year-old pupils to design a Legends of the Sea-themed sail in honour of Sherborne’s double Olympic medallist.

Father-of-two Simpson, 36, tragically died in May this year in an America’s Cup training accident, when the 72-foot catamaran he was aboard capsized, trapping him underneath for 10 minutes.

Simpson, pictured, who was nicknamed Bart, won Olympic gold and silver for Great Britain at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games, sailing with skipper and best friend Iain Percy in the two-man Star class.

The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, established by his wife Leah, Iain Percy and Sir Ben Ainslie, aims to honour Simp-son’s life and legacy by encouraging youngsters into sailing.

Earlier this month, Ainslie named the first Andrew Simpson Sports Ambassadors at Ferndown First School – Harry Burton and Sydney Tabor.

Ainslie, Percy and other Oly-mpians will be competing in the 2014 Fine Art Sails event.

Three pupils’ artworks will be chosen and showcased alongside work by four artists from last year’s regatta: Goldie, Julian Opie, David Begbie and EINE.

Percy said: “One of the things I really love about sailing is the ocean, the beauty and power of it sometimes, and I want you guys in this sailing art competition to capture that for us.”

Michael Ross, founder of Fine Art Sails said: “Each of the three winners of this competition will see their artwork on a 10-metre high sail, raced against each other by Olympic sailors at the London Boat Show in Jan-uary 2014. When you're thinking about your design, you should be inspired by the oceans and by the wind.”

* The art competition has three categories – seven to 10 years; 11-14 years and 15-17 years.

Schools must choose and submit only one entry per age category. The closing date for entries is 2pm on Friday, November 29.

First prizes include a day sailing with Olympic sailors, £250-worth of art materials for the winning schools, and a special invitation to the London Boat Show. Download entry forms at campaignfordrawing.org/competitions/ sailart.aspx